While you were still sleeping, the stock market was busy getting ready for the day. Ramon “Ray” Gonzalez, Head of Technology Operations for IEX Exchange, joins Ronan and JR to walk us through the checklist his team goes through every day – starting at 4 am – to get the market ready for smooth sailing. Plus, they delve into “bare metal” infrastructure, data centers, and the potential for exchanges to move into the cloud. Recorded January 31, 2022. 

Jim Toes, President and CEO of the Securities Traders Association and a leading voice in market structure, joins Ronan and JR on the pod this week. Jim gives the guys a sneak peek of what's on the docket for STA’s 90th Annual Market Structure Conference, and also discusses the rise of stablecoins and Bitcoin ETFs, his thoughts on the SEC's proposed market structure reforms, the implications of a 24-hour trading day, and the greatest moment in the Big Short. Recorded October 3, 2023.  

Anna Kurzrok, managing director of market structure at Jefferies, joins Ronan and JR to dive into the nuts and bolts of U.S. equities market structure. They chat about what the SEC's market structure proposals will mean for the big institutional players and everyday traders, the trajectory of AI in trading, the fragmentation of trading venues, and what's going on with off-exchange trading. Recorded August 29, 2023.

Barry Ritholtz, CIO of Ritholtz Wealth Management, and host of the popular Bloomberg podcast “Masters In Business,” joins JR and Ronan to discuss lessons learned from the 2008 financial crisis, misconceptions about inflation, and how the best way to gain experience is through not getting what you want. Tune in for a deep dive into the financial markets with Barry, who reveals how his background in behavioral finance and his fearless approach when launching his blog, the “Big Picture,” earned him the reputation as “one of the most dangerous people in financial media.” Recorded August 8th, 2023.

JR and Ronan are joined by Giancarlo, Annabelle, and Dennis - three of IEX’s 2023 summer interns - for this special episode about the aspirations of America’s upcoming workforce. Though Gen Z had to navigate remote schooling during Covid, grappling with global warming, and witnessing seemingly constant political and economic shifts, this episode reveals that what’s on their mind might resonate more closely with previous generations than one might think. Recorded August 8th, 2023. 

What needs to change about the finance industry in order to close the gender gap? What will the next generation of Wall Street leaders look like? How will Gen Zers shape workplace culture - and the finance industry? On the latest episode of Boxes and Lines, Ronan and JR are joined by Katherine Jollon Colsher, President and CEO of Girls Who Invest, to discuss the longstanding gender gap within the finance industry and how Girls Who Invest is providing young women access to resources and education programs in asset management. They also discuss the necessity of bringing diverse perspectives into the workplace, the importance of management training, and what intersectionality really means. Recorded July 19, 2023.

It’s the debut of “Dear Boxes and Lines,” our listener mailbag series in which Ronan and JR are answering listeners’ most pressing questions. What would JR and Ronan change about market structure if they could wave their magic wands? What’s the hardest thing about operating a stock exchange? Who are their dream guests? (Elvis, we’ll figure out how to get your invite sent to the Great Graceland in the Sky). Hit play and get to know Ronan and JR outside the boxes and lines. Recorded July 12, 2023.

Duncan Higgins, founder of Sustainable Trading, joins Ronan and JR to discuss what it means to “trade sustainably.” They also touch on the environmental impact of data centers, the creation and implementation of best practices for firms (should employees be powering computers with stationary bikes?), and the global effects of changes in ESG legislation. Recorded June 21, 2023. 

We’re dipping into our archives for this episode of Boxes and Lines and revisiting our episode with Eric “Batch” Budish (nickname bestowed by us), the Paul G. McDermott Professor of Economics and Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, whose groundbreaking paper, “The High Frequency Trading Arms Race: Frequent Batch Auctions as a Market Design Response” has helped shape exchange design proposals in stock markets and futures markets. Featuring an updated intro from Ronan and JR. Original episode recorded July 28, 2021.

Ronan and JR are joined by Eric Stockland and Joe Wald of BMO Capital Markets on our latest episode to discuss the recent proposed market reforms by the SEC. Listen as they navigate the intricate web of regulations and the potential impact these reforms could have on the stock market, investors and the future of financial markets. Recorded April 5, 2023.